COVID19: Pakistan confirms 4th death, coronavirus cases rise to 760

Pakistan leads South Asia with the highest number of coronavirus cases in the region, a total of 760 till Sunday night, according to government data.

On March 18 (Wednesday), authorities confirmed the country's first two fatalities from COVID-19, as the illness is officially known. Third death was reported March 20 (Friday) in the biggest city Karachi, capital of Sindh province which has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Today, Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir announced the country’s fourth death (third in KP), a woman who had arrived from Taftan and shifted to Dera Ismail Khan.

Updated as of 12:00am, 23 Mar, 2020

New cases keep emerging in all four provinces – Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab - and Islamabad Capital Territory.

Sindh remains the worst affected province with a total of 333 cases, after 18 new cases were reported from Karachi and 23 from Sukkur. On Friday, health minister Azra Fazal Pechuho confirmed Sindh's first death of a 77-year-old man, saying the patient was a cancer survivor and had other medical problems like hypertension and diabetes but didn't have any travel or contact history.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in Balochistan has reached 104.

According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department, the number of cases in the province stands at 31. Last week, the northwestern province reported two deaths, two men aged 36 and 50, in different cities.

In addition to the 2 confirmed cases reported earlier, 2 more cases have been confirmed in KP taking the total tally to 27. 1 case has foreign travel history and the other is a contact of previously confirmed case. #CoronaVirusPakistan

Practice respiratory hygiene by coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow or tissue and then immediately dispose it off

Wear a medical or surgical mask if have respiratory symptoms - Perform hand hygiene after disposing off the mask.

Maintain a minimum of mandatory 1 meter distance from individuals with respiratory symptoms

If symptoms appear, doctors or 1166 should be approached immediately

SPECIAL ISOLATION WARDS

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr. Sania Nishtar says fully equipped isolation wards have been established at thirty-five hospitals across the country to combat the coronavirus.

The process of research is in progress to find out the vaccine of the coronavirus, she said, adding that basic medicines are being used for its treatment at the moment.

If anyone suspects symptoms including dry cough, difficulty in breathing and fever then he or she must contact the hospital.

Partial Lockdowns across Pakistan

While Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled out a total lockdown to avoid drastic consequences on the national economy, Sindh government has announced to impose lockdown in the province from Sunday tonight.

"After 12:00AM tonight [Sunday night] Sindh will undergo a lockdown," CM Syed Murad Ali Shah said. "People will not be allowed to venture out of their homes unnecessarily."

The chief minister said that that if citizens needed to go to the hospital, only three persons will be allowed to travel in a car.

Also, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has decided to impose a complete lockdown from Monday midnight for an indefinite period.

Pakistan, a nation of over 220 million people, has already placed a general ban on public gatherings - including weddings, social gatherings and other types of congregations. Schools and other educational institutions have been ordered to remain shut until at least April 3; in addition to an enforced closure of all shopping centres, cinemas, public parks, non-essential government offices and other locations where people may congregate. Grocery stores and pharmacies, however, remain open.

In addition, the country has closed its land borders with Iran and Afghanistan and is screening all air travel passengers.

The Aviation Division on Saturday announced to suspend operation of all international passenger, chartered and private flights to Pakistan from March 21 (2000 hrs PST ) to April 4 (2000 hrs PST ), keeping in view the evolving situation in the country.

In Punjab's capital, the Metro Bus Service administration has banned traveling by citizens without wearing mask in buses.

Latest on Coronavirus from around the world

At least 188 countries have been affected, more than 13,600 people have died and over 318,000 infected by the disease as it spreads rapidly to new territories. The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted from China to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day. A total of 96,000 people have also recovered from the mysterious illness.

In India, there are a total of 329 coronavirus cases, while five people have died so far. The country, home to more than a billion people, has so far tested more than 11,500 people, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Sri Lanka, where 77 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, has delayed scheduled parliamentary elections and banned all incoming flights for two weeks in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Afghanistan has so far officially reported 24 cases of coronavirus in the country amid an influx of people returning home from Iran, one of the world's worst hotspots for coronavirus infection, hoarding and supply shortages.

Bangladesh has so far confirmed two death due to COVID-19, with a total of at least 24 people infected, according to government officials.